Choccamine and mintanol have Rf values of 0.81 and 0.21 respectively. What would the distance in centimetres (cm) between the two compounds be if the TLC was run on a TLC plate where the solvent front moved 8.9 cm from the baseline?
Rf value = (distance by unknown/distance by solvent)
Substitute and solve for distance by the 0.81 material and the 0.21 material, then subtract one from the other to find the distance between them.
To find the distance in centimeters (cm) between the two compounds on the TLC plate, we need to calculate the difference in their Rf values and then scale it up based on the distance traveled by the solvent front.
1. First, find the difference in Rf values between the two compounds:
- Subtract the smaller Rf value from the larger Rf value.
- Difference = Larger Rf value - Smaller Rf value
- Difference = 0.81 - 0.21
- Difference = 0.60
2. Next, determine the distance traveled by the two compounds based on the solvent front's movement. Since the solvent front moved 8.9 cm from the baseline, we need to calculate what fraction each compound would have traveled compared to the solvent front.
- For Choccamine:
- Distance = Difference in Rf values * Distance traveled by the solvent front
- Distance = 0.60 * 8.9 cm
- Distance = 5.34 cm (rounded to two decimal places)
- For Mintanol:
- Distance = 0.21 * 8.9 cm
- Distance = 1.87 cm (rounded to two decimal places)
3. Finally, calculate the distance between the two compounds:
- Distance = Distance traveled by Choccamine - Distance traveled by Mintanol
- Distance = 5.34 cm - 1.87 cm
- Distance = 3.47 cm (rounded to two decimal places)
Therefore, the distance in centimeters (cm) between Choccamine and Mintanol on the TLC plate would be approximately 3.47 cm.